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1976 Ibanez Firebird
https://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10137&t=55485		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Chris Pile [ Mon Jan 30, 2023 1:20 am ]
Post subject:  1976 Ibanez Firebird
I have a 1976 Ibanez Firebird on the bench. It's pretty beaten up, and many original parts are missing. I have a generic white pickguard in a box somewhere to replace the black one. It took a little research, but it has real Gibson early 70's mini-humbuckers installed - you know the ones with the black plastic covers that came in mid-70's SG Specials? The chrome vibrola is long gone, replaced by a Bigsby which does almost nothing but throw the plain strings out of tune. The stock nut was splintered beyond help and epoxied in place with still-gooey glue. I took care of that with an old bone nut from another SG copy. And someone sanded the old Ibanez logo off the truss rod cover and hand-painted a Gibson logo on it with gold metallic paint. It wouldn't fool anyone. Would you believe the original case is still in good shape?

Strung up to pitch, it plays great and sounds sharp. In the current condition it could be gigged right now, but I'd rather have the original Maestro-style vibrola. I could order a Chinese one, but it would look too shiny new on this beater. Anyone have an old one laying around? Looks like this... a plain, scratched up one would do. Doesn't even need the handle. I just want the tailpiece.

https://trading59.ocnk.net/data/trading ... e3e65b.jpg

I'm willing to pop for one if anyone has one. Thanks.

Here's what it looks like now... :o
Author:  Hesh [ Mon Jan 30, 2023 3:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Great guitar, very cool. Ibanez guitars when it comes to fretwork are always standouts and very well done and we appreciate that when pushing the action lower.

Surprised that mean and nasty Henry at G*bson didn't sue Ibanez for the Firebirds too.

Very cool project Chris!!!
Author:  dzsmith [ Mon Jan 30, 2023 10:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
My band mate bought one in 1976.
Great guitar with a great unique sound.
Ibanez still makes good instruments.
Author:  Chris Pile [ Mon Jan 30, 2023 10:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
I've been an Ibanez fanboi since the mid-70's. I can't count the number I've owned in the past. Heck, I have 2 or 3 right now.
Author:  Hesh [ Mon Jan 30, 2023 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
When someone asks for uber low action and it's an Ibanez I never worry that I can't give them what they want. Fretwork wise Ibanez necks are some of the best in the business and ideal for shredders as well as anyone who loves very low action. They are indeed great values too. I'm a fan too.
Author:  Pmaj7 [ Mon Jan 30, 2023 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
I agree, I've worked on a few older Ibanez Les Paul types. I think artist series from the '80s. All very solid guitars. After fret level and set up couldn't stop playing them and was thinking I need to find one for myself each time I worked on one. A little bulkyish, but maybe that's part of the deal.

Pat
Author:  joshnothing [ Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
I’ve worked on a few 1970s “lawsuit-era” Ibanez SG-style guitars that would whup any actual SG and leave it begging for mercy. Some of their archtops from the 80s are as good as any production jazzbox you can buy. Even today Ibanez archtops are the go-to for keen students looking for their first pro-grade instrument. Their Satriani and Vai signature superstrats go toe to toe with anything from Jackson when it comes to shred and RGs are iconic metal axes. The Iceman is just plain Cool.

One of the most consistent guitar manufacturers of my lifetime for sure, while the other big names were mailing it in from time to time and coasting on past success. I can’t pick a period of poor quality from Ibanez, at least, in terms of their made in Japan stuff.

My first “real” electric guitar was a mid range Ibanez strat knockoff with two humbuckers. I got it from a pawn shop in my early teens and plastered it with stickers from my favourite punk bands. I still have it - great thin-C neck shape that I’ve copied for some of my own builds.

The only black mark against the Ibanez name in my view are their sound gear series active basses, which I’m close to banning from my shop forever.
Author:  Hesh [ Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Josh the proprietary electronics such don't they?
Author:  Chris Pile [ Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Quote:
The only black mark against the Ibanez name in my view are their sound gear series active basses, which I’m close to banning from my shop forever.


Why is this, Josh? They are quite popular around here, and I've not found a problem when working on them.
Author:  joshnothing [ Tue Jan 31, 2023 2:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
They’re popular here too and the woodwork and hardware on them are plenty nice. I’m just still hurting after having three in a row last week all with similar weird problems with the active electronics where they function perfectly for 30 minutes until something gets hot and suddenly crazy hiss manifests itself. You think you’ve fixed it only to have the customer return and inform you that the replacement part you installed does it too - only it takes an hour to start :D


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Author:  Chris Pile [ Tue Jan 31, 2023 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Ah.... I don't mess with electronics. I'm pitiful with a soldering iron, and the fumes make me ill. I leave them to my genius partner - Mike Metz at Thesis Audio Service.
Author:  joshnothing [ Tue Jan 31, 2023 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Gonna get stickers made up that say JUST BUY A P-BASS
Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu Feb 09, 2023 8:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Couple hundreds in parts have been ordered. It won't be restored, as the original factory parts are priced like diamonds, but when it's done - it'll be cool. Pix when done, okay?
Author:  dzsmith [ Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Chris Pile wrote:
Couple hundreds in parts have been ordered. It won't be restored, as the original factory parts are priced like diamonds, but when it's done - it'll be cool. Pix when done, okay?


I hope you can find a white pick guard with the emblem.
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Feb 11, 2023 11:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
That would be nice, but I have a generic antique white pickguard in storage....
Author:  jfmckenna [ Sun Feb 12, 2023 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
I don't have one but what I have done to age things is put the part in a bucket of old rusty nuts and screws with a lid on it and shake the hell out of it for several minutes.
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
I needed to mount the Hipshot locking tuners on this thing. The problem? The stock Fender mounting plates have a different tuner spacing than the Firebird. Solution? Chuck up a sanding barrel on the Dremel, and elongate the two outer holes of the plates until all three tuning machines fit properly. Didn't take very long to do four holes, and from the front no one will know they aren't screwed on like the stock ones.

The middle photo compares the stock plate on top, and the modded one on the bottom. Only took about a half-hour to do this. Worked on one plate while the other cooled off. When done, deburr the holes and mount the tuners. Easy peasy.

https://i.imgur.com/CxtGcH8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ZIMvejb.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/N1Pbg4A.jpg
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Had fun mounting the Maestro style vibrato. I've never fooled with one before, and found I had to disassemble it to mount it. Check the photos. Too bad I couldn't find one with the embossed lyre on the cover. The plain chrome is extra shiny.

https://i.imgur.com/NZwbCGO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/E916T6j.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7Jkj4WH.jpg
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
This had been refretted sometime in the past. The fellow didn't cut all the frets the right length to fit between the binding strips. No matter, I know a trick or two to fill the gaps and make it look nicer.

https://i.imgur.com/FBXiixl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/lH2IUX4.jpg
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Because someone previously routed the mini-humbucker holes out for fullsized humbuckers, the previous owner fabbed up some aluminum rings to cover the holes and mount the Gibson mini-humbuckers - and powder coated them black. I'm going to strip them, and buff them out until they glisten. I'll be using Allparts Firebird units because they have alnico 5 magnets like the original Firebird. Most of the aftermarket Firebird pickups have ceramic magnets. I'm going for the vintage sound instead.

Because whoever routed those pickup holes did a crappy freehanded job, followed up by using a screwdriver as a chisel, I also glued some of the mahogany back together so the mounting screws will be solid when it's put back together.

https://i.imgur.com/qFgEbI8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Boh5OK2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/N9sufVj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/v4CBFWb.jpg
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
The truss rod cover was fabbed from a single ply pickguard from an acoustic guitar and painted with the Gibson logo. That's going in the parts box, and a new truss rod cover was purchased. I put on a rub-on transfer decal from Creative Cuts (an eBay seller).

https://i.imgur.com/axWJBjz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wLxOVWM.jpg
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
Chris, it makes it much easier for readers if you post the photos on the OLF. I guess I am too lazy.
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
You are correct, Barry. But they are too large for the OLF, and I've not used a photo resizer that I actually like. What do you use?
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
I am on a Mac and use Multiple Image Resizer. It goes pretty quick. I can give some suggestions on my routine if helpful.
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1976 Ibanez Firebird
I have a busted old Dell desktop on its last legs.
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